DA investigating Colorado secretary of state

DENVER – A spokesman for Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler says his boss welcomes a thorough investigation to determine if Gessler violated the law by using state funds to attend a partisan event and spending $1,400 from his office account without receipts.

Denver district attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough tells the Denver Post (http://tinyurl.com/cxsnbw3) a criminal probe has been launched into the allegations. Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission is also investigating.

Gessler’s spokesman, Rich Coolidge, says the office fund is similar to the per diem given state lawmakers where no receipts are necessary.

Gessler is also under fire for using state funds to return early from the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Colorado’s elections chief says death threats were made against his family, prompting his early return.